Udinese coach, Andrea Sottil is surprised by Italian defender, Destiny Udogie’s exclusion from the Italy squad to face England and Hungary in the 2022 UEFA Nations League.
The Azzuri of Italy who finished third in the 2021 UEFA Nations League will face the Three Lions of England on Friday, September 23 at San Siro in Italy and the Magyars of Hungary on Monday, 26 September at Puskas Arena Park in Hungary.
Italy coach, Roberto Mancini released a squad list for the UEFA Nations League games and Udogie was left out.
Also Read: Iwobi Named Man Of The Match In Everton’s Home Win Vs West Ham
Speaking during a press conference, Sottil admitted being surprised by Mancini’s snub of Udogie, an impressive left-back, in his latest Italy squad.
“These decisions surprised me,” Sottil was quoted as saying by Football Italia.
“I respect Mancini’s choices but I was still surprised. I think Udogie is one of the best full-backs in the League, he proves this all the time.
“As for Silvestri, I consider him one of the best goalkeepers in Italy.”
The 19-year-old Udogie who was born in Verona, Italy is eligible to represent the Super Eagles of Nigeria due to his parentage. He has represented Italy at the U-16, U-17, U-18, U-19, and U-21 levels.
Udogie, a loanee from Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, has scored two goals in six Serie A games for Udinese so far this season.
Udinese are currently second in the Serie A with 16 points from seven games.
Four-time World Champions, Italy, have declined in recent years, having failed to qualify for two consecutive FIFA World Cup finals; 2018 in Russia and 2022 in Qatar.
By Toju Sote
15 Comments
I wish this guy can play for Nigeria.. very quality left wing back, an upgrade of sanusi but I doubt we can get this dude..
Okoli of Atlanta is just wasting his time waiting for an Italian call up .. he better applies for a switch to Nigeria, the earlier the better..
I like Okoli’s very aggressive spirit. He reminds me of Mobi Oparaku. He loves attacking too and very good on the ball. Nigeria should get him. As for this Udogie, hes lost already. Its only a matter of time before he gets a call from Mancini.
Udogie son of the Benin empire,the cradle of black civilization please listen to my voice(comment)…….Run away from playing for Italy and embrace your destiny in the super eagles…… Italy can not sacrifice more than two slot for a black player and currently those slots have already been given out…… Take advice from Ogbonna and many dual nationality players in Italy….. You do not have a future with Italian national team not now not ever….. Come and we will embrace you with both hands……Oba wa to pe ihe!…iseee!
That name is a typical “Igbo” name.
Maybe you mistaken him for Success Isaac..
Nigeria on red alert. NFF, wake up.
Mario Barwuah Balotelli(Ghana),Angelo Obinze Ogbonna and Stefano Chuka Okaka(Both of Nigerian descent) are few instances of Black African footballers who played for Italy. While Balotelli and Ogbonna were a bit successful with the Azzurris,Okaka was not lucky. Okaka was approached by Nigeria for a switch in order to lace his boots for the Super Eagles but he spurned the offer choosing to represent his adopted country instead. Yet after just two caps in international friendlies, Okaka was dumped like a hot iron.
Fast forward to the present. Destiny Udogie(Udinese Calcio ,on loan from Tottenham Hotspur),Caleb Okoli(Atalanta),Paolo Gozzi Iweru(Cosenza) ,Michael Folorunsho(FC Bari on loan from Napoli) and Franklyn Akammadu are still holding on tenaciously to false hopes of establishing International careers with Italy in place of Nigeria.
My advise is that they should choose to represent Nigeria if they desire long and eventful international careers.I rest my case.
A lot of these Italy-Nigerian players are young (under 23) and play in defense. The Italian national team considers itself the international master of defense but it prefers experience over youth.
The average age of the Italian defense is about 34 years, so these boys are going to be waiting a while for their turn as there is already a generation of players 25-29 years ahead of them for selection.
Then there is the matter of race, they are not all going to represent Italy, as Italians would favor a national team that is mostly racially representative of their country. These young boys don’t understand that the visibility the senior national team gets is much more than in U17 and U21 where black players can constitute as much as half the team. When it comes to the senior national team they may field one or two black players but no more.
They are most likely to be used in friendlies and then abandoned. Very sad but it’s their choice.
I like you ehn…
You sabi spit fact painful fact…
Same advice goes to the son of former Super Eagles striker,Obafemi Martins who plays for one of Italy’s youth teams,Kevin Maussi Martins(Inter Milan U19). I understand that he is also eligible to represent Ghana where his mother hails from (she is the sister of Ghanaian-born Mario Barwuah Balotelli).Kevin Maussi Martins, please play for Nigeria.
Yes Udojie we need him. But let us talk of Isaac Succes One of Udinese Best attackers since he found his form again last season and he has become even better this season his form is incredible. Udinese is topping the group. However Nigeria will still Invite Musa on Buhari’s Order the same Buhari that is bringing Bad luck to this country in every Faccets. This country just missed out on World Cup because we did not have a strong Cpatian that can rally the team yet no sign of improvement constat bad luck injuries and to top it off we still leave inform players out to accomodate Quota system. Tell me why should god favour this corrupt rotten Country in anything Tell ME????????????????????
Instead of you to be BLAMING Your own EGUAVEON for the WORLD CUP miss, you are there BLAMING MUSA…
Continue HATER
That is how you and your FELLOW MORONS kept on ATTACKING the INNOCENT GENERAL ROAH until HE was SACKED…
Monkey post sometimes Asnwering you is not worthy this is one of those times. You know what man. just keep your lane. If you still see no injustice in Musa inivite that is on you. When I have shown you his presence is keeping guys who can add much needed depth in the squad. Then like I said it will useless continuing. Just so you know I am not the only one who poses this question. Read below article and answer the Question. What is MUSA adding to Super Eagles?. Mind you Nigeria needs to build for a successful World Cup qualification in 4 years time and for AFCON next year.
https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/super-eagles-squad-nigeria-s-unanswered-questions/bltdb054ab7776e2c68#csbc21f62626b9f88f
I guess we missed the world cup in 2006 too because “we did not have a strong Captain that can rally the team”…..LMAOoo
Ahmed Musa must be the one who selected the lineups for both games against Ghana and didnt know what to do in response to change of tactics by the more competent and qualified opposition technical bench…..LMAoooo
Ugo vs Monkey post season 101.